[Contribución]Academic Lecture “A Great Crisis for the Future of Japan if Privatized” Yoshiko Shirata, Specially Appointed Professor at Tokyo International University: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

On November 26, Minister of Science and Technology Shinji Inoue met with Takaaki Kajita, president of the Japan Academic Conference, and requested that the academic conference be considered separate from national institutions. What problems might arise at the Japan Academy of Sciences if the conference were a non-governmental organization (NGO) or were privatized? Former Secretary of the Academic Conference and Former Secretary General of the Asian Academic ConferenceYoshiko shirata（Yoshiko shirata）A specially appointed professor at Tokyo International University wrote in the Tokyo Shimbun, expressing concern that “it will be difficult to participate in international academic conferences and Asian academic conferences, and it will be a great crisis for the future of Japanese society.”

◆ Importance of “National Academy”

Discussions related to the Japan Academic Conference have started to move from the topic of “refusal of appointment” to “making the academic conference independent of the country.”
　
Inoue, the Minister of Science and Technology, mentioned this “independence” after meeting with the academic conference, but the government’s speculation was not a question of appointment from the beginning, but this “independence”.

I feel that the importance and effect of making proposals directly to the government beyond ministries and agencies as a “national academy” has not been adequately communicated not only to the government but also to the people. Therefore, I would like to change my perspective a bit and first mention the role that the “National Academy” has played.

◆ World scientific organization

There are scientific organizations not only in Japan but also around the world. Unlike institutions called “academic associations”, where researchers from universities and other institutions publish the results of their individual research and accumulate achievements, scientific organizations around the world cross national borders and study the ideal state of the earth. . It has been configured as a place of discussion from the perspective of the person.

What type of institution exists? UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was established as a specialized agency of the United Nations with the aim of promoting international peace and human well-being through cooperation and educational exchange. , science and culture in the member countries.

The International Council for Social Sciences (ISSC) was established with the support of UNESCO. In the field of natural sciences, the International Research Council (IRC) was established as an organization to communicate and mutually coordinate the academic institutions of each country and the international associations of academic societies related to the natural sciences, and was reorganized in 1931 to be the International Association of Academic Associations. (ICSU) was completed.

In 2018, ISSC and ICSU merged to establish the International Academic Conference (ISC), which brings together all scientists, from the humanities and social sciences to the natural sciences. This is because it has become more important for scientists in all fields, such as global warming, to think together about what the Earth should be to contribute to the well-being of humanity in all disciplines.

In addition to the ISC, there is an international organization called IAP (Inter Academy Partnership), which is made up solely of the National Academy. The IAP is made up of more than 140 scientific organizations in 100 countries and provides scientific advice and recommendations to governments on important topics such as policy proposals, promoting science education, and improving health and hygiene.

◆ If the academic conference becomes a non-governmental organization ◆

Since joining the IAP in 1996, the Japanese academic council has actively participated in activities and sent executive officers, and the member countries fully recognize Japan’s presence and in 2017 also held an “International Conference on Science and Technology for a Society Sustainable “sponsored by IAP at an academic conference.

In the future, as Minister of Science and Technology Inoue points out, if the academic conference is “separate from the country” and is no longer a national institution, there will be no national academy directly under the government of Japan. What will happen if that happens?

Japan must first withdraw from an international institution like the IAP, where only national academies can be members. In that case, the Japanese government should establish an organization in the Cabinet Office to replace the academic conference, and the Japanese government should continue to send opinions to scientific academies around the world. If so, how does the government intend to reorganize the organization of scientists who can give good opinions within the government?

One of the international academies is the Asian Academic Conference (SCA), which organizes Asian countries. The most different point from the international scientific organizations presented so far is that the secretariat of the Asian Academic Conference is established within the Japanese Academic Conference.

The National Academy of Sciences of the United States and the Royal Association of the United Kingdom in the United Kingdom are independent of the government and cannot join UNESCO or international academic conferences. In addition to these academies, the United States and the United Kingdom have created institutions under the direct control of the government to respond.

If the academic conference is “separate from the country”, there will be no academic organization positioning itself as a national institution, and Japan will not be able to join the IAP, Asian academic conference, international academic conference, etc. as before and demonstrate leadership. ..

◆ Asian academic conference led by Japan ◆

The Asian Academic Conference is made up of 32 national academies directly reporting to the presidents and prime ministers of 18 Asian member countries, and is an organization that makes policy proposals to the governments of each country.

The origin of this is the “Asian Academic Conference-Scientific Forum-“, which was established by the Japanese Academic Conference with the purpose of collaborating with each country in the Asian region through science and technology, and was reorganized and established in 2000.

The annual convention is held by 18 member countries on a rotating basis, and the articles of incorporation stipulate that the representative of the host country will be the president and the representative of the next host country will be the vice president.

On the other hand, it is the members of the Asian Academic Conference, which is a member of the Asian Academic Conference Subcom Committee, who are in charge of all practical operations. From 2011 to 2014, when he was secretary general, nine national academies from seven countries joined and the scale expanded, with the vice president of the Asian Development Bank attending the convention and giving a keynote speech. ..

The outreach to non-member countries begins with a visit to the country’s minister or prime minister and explaining details such as the purpose of the Asian Academic Conference and the importance of its activities. Meetings with the ministers of each country are possible because the secretariat is established in an academic conference directly under the Japanese government (Cabinet Office) and the general secretary is a member of the Japanese academic conference (chair of the subcommittee).

◆ An important place to discuss efforts to protect the earth.

　
If an academic council becomes a private or non-governmental organization, it will naturally be difficult for its representatives to visit the country and meet with the minister. If the academic council withdraws and the secretariat of the Asian academic council moves or reorganizes in another country, 18 member countries will have to meet and deliberate at the general meeting.

The Cabinet Office and local embassies have also collaborated with academic councils, including negotiations between nations, but is there any other country that does a great deal of secretarial work? Is the Minister of Science and Technology Inoue making a statement based on these points?

The Articles of Incorporation of the Asian Academy of Sciences stipulate that “registration is at the national level” (Article 1.1), and the member organization must be a national academy representing the scientific organization of the country.

If the academic council becomes an “independent” institution, of course, it will be disqualified as a member of the Asian academic council. Scientists around the world will again criticize Japan for its severe crisis in the survival of the Asian Academic Conference, which was launched, demonstrated leadership and sought to collaborate with Asian countries.

The recent development of Asian countries has been rapid and there are many points that Japan can follow in terms of science. Regarding the SDGs, which are currently under discussion, the Asian Academic Conference already held a convention in 2014 with the theme “Future Earth” and announced its recommendations. The mission of scientists is to return the results of science to society.

The Asian Academic Conference is an important place for scientists from Asian countries to collaborate and discuss problems that politics and efforts to protect the Earth cannot solve. Japan’s inability to participate in the serious discussions that scientists around the world have continued to protect the earth, not to mention the Asian Academic Conference, may pose a major crisis for the future of Japanese society.